CONVERTING SUFFERING INTO OFFERING

HOMILY FOR THE 5^TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

We do not see suffering in the sacrifices we make or in the experiences we pass through as Christians. What we do see is service and offering. When we suffer, we see in those sufferings an offering for the sake of who we believe in (God) and for the sake of others. The awful experiences we encounter, the moments that make us to cry, the people that make us to grief, the things that cause us to sob, and the words that break our hearts are all geared towards one purpose –to toughen and position us on the right plane. Nothing escapes the gaze of God. Consider that joyful position you find yourself today, and think back on the past horrible ones; crosscheck then whether you will be in the present joy if you had not passed through the past sorrow. Sufferings are meant to be accepted and offered up as offerings to God. No one sees the future. And so, why must you seem to give up if you expect to do Law in the University, and you see your score amongst those doing Public Administration? What you should be concerned with is praying to God to accept that suffering of yours as a fitting offering for your salvation.

The First Reading (Job 7:1-4. 6-7) presents to us the grief of a suffering man, Job. Job lamented over his condition. It affected him so much because he was not used to such a condition. He may have forgotten that some people were actually born in that suffering condition he has found himself for some little time. If he had remembered this and weighed the duration such persons had put into suffering and his own duration, it may have led him into appreciating his former condition and making sure he lifts others out of such condition if he sees himself out soonest. This is what it means to convert suffering into offering. If you see yourself in a position that makes you weep, learn to think about some persons who have occupied such position ahead of you, and may remain there after you. Learn to be appreciative, and practice some form of offering for those persons.

Job experienced sleeplessness, emptiness, misery and hopelessness. These experiences made him to understand the shortness of life and its vanity, coupled with its ugliness. Some people tend to see every good in life without knowing that some others are crying and lamenting over series of bad experiences. Some tend to cry over the inability to build houses, while some others are dying of malnutrition. Some are weeping that they owe school fees, while some others are just praying to survive a particular terminal illness. Learn to be grateful, and convert those suffering moments into offering for those you are better off than. Sufferings must teach us. Job’s suffering later on led him into the omnipotence of God and the fragility of humanity. Suffering must humble us, and should never make us more proud. We have to accept our position as human beings who are created and whose knowledge cannot be limitless.

St. Paul in the Second Reading (1 Cor. 9:16-19,22-23) understood well how to be humble in suffering and how to offer suffering up for the sake of Christ and his Church. In his writing, he exposes that he has suffered for the Gospel through his preaching in many places. This however does not make him boast, since he is a preacher of Christ. He has rather seen himself as a slave to all. He makes himself weak to save the weak. He does not believe that the demonstration of his strength is a way of saving the weak. That would be intimidation, and such a gospel of intimidation does not last and cannot be in the real sense an offering for others. Paul offered himself up for the sake of the gospel, and saw in his sufferings, a channel to save others. He denied himself of a luxurious life for the sake of working to see that more people encounter the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ actions in the Gospel (Mark 1:29-39) becomes an eye opener of one who is skilled in the act of seeing offering in suffering. He lives his life for the sake of others. He considers others first, even when such consideration leads him into denying himself of certain rights and privileges. Jesus went straight to the home of Peter’s mother-in-law after the worship session in the synagogue. According to the tradition of the Jews, the major meal of the Sabbath came immediately after the synagogue service, at the sixth hour (12:00 mid-day). As many people were going home to rest and most probably to take their Sabbath meal, Jesus was concerned with going to a home to continue the work He was sent to do. As many were thinking about themselves and their wellbeing, Jesus was thinking about another and her wellbeing. Jesus has the right to rest after the exhausting synagogue service, but he did not.

Another concerns the person who was healed. Peter’s mother-in-law was ill and immediately she was healed, she started to attend to her visitors. She did not relax as a newly recovered person; rather she used her recovered health for a renewed service. We are saved to serve. Paul was saved to serve. Christians are saved to serve. Do not see yourself as a king or queen to be served; rather see yourself as a servant whose service will help to bring salvation. Do not be selfish in your life of service. That service might be your moment of suffering. Yes, service involves suffering. However, service is service only if it offers. And never believe that the service you are rendering makes no meaning. Do not belittle those moments of service, for they are the most precious moments of your life. Even when it is forcefully appealing to you that such suffering is not any form of service, do not dance to such an appeal; rather convert such an appeal into a persuasive encouragement that humanity is being saved by you.

Do not see hopelessness where actually you should be very hopeful. Do not see failure where actually is your way to success. Do not see punishment where actually you are corrected for the better. Do not weep or grief over suffering; instead reap the suffering and plant anew the seed of offering. Learn to convert your suffering to an offering for the sake of others. If you have found yourself in prison when you have done nothing illegal, convert those hard punishments into an offering for the suffering Church in purgatory. If you are undergoing some setbacks based on the wickedness of mankind, convert those setbacks to step racks for another direction, and offer it up for all those who may suffer such in the future. If you are maimed and destroyed for a course you do not know about, convert them into a warning against future misdeed and offer it up for the sake of others who have no one to adjudicate for them.   

One last thing is that we ought to accompany our offerings with silent moments of prayer. The Gospels are replete with the action of Christ who always has time for prayer. After healing many persons today, he withdrew to pray. The prayer of Jesus is a sure proof that he never disconnected himself from heaven. Hence, the Christian must even as he/she offers up his/her suffering to God back them up with prayer. It does not end in offering; it continues in constant prayer. May we be more encouraged and energized in our struggle, and may our offerings be acceptable to God when we offer them up to him in prayer. Amen. I wish you a happy new week. God bless you.

THE PROPHET “LIKE NO OTHER”

HOMILY FOR THE 4^TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Rev.fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

Here comes something so awesome and outstanding. There was an advertisement of a particular brand of noodles that portrayed the story of a child who got so pleased with the delicious meal the mother prepared for her. This made the child to give to her mother another title: mommy like no other. When we act in an outstanding manner in our various areas of duty, we become like no other. When we make sincere efforts to do exactly what is required of us, then we are following the line of Christ who did exactly what was required of him in his mission of preaching and teaching; and this got the people to believe that he was really like no other. Jesus is the prophet like no other.

In the First Reading (Deut. 18: 15-20), Moses in his speech to the people promised them that the Lord would send a prophet like himself, who will come from among the people. His major reason for this promise was that that was exactly what the people implied telling God when they cried to him in the desert to never let them hear directly from Him, or see the great fire which marked the presence of God. The Lord understood their plea and had to tell Moses that he would from among them raise a prophet just like Moses to be his mouthpiece. There are two consequences of this. The first concerns the people, as the second concerns the prophet himself. If anyone from among the people fails to listen to the word of the prophet, the person must answer to God, and if the prophet becomes insincere with his prophesy, he will die. On the part of the prophet especially, the condition is tough. Who is that prophet that can fulfil this role in utmost sincerity and dedication?

The first awareness we make of this text is that at first sight, there is here an establishment of the prophetic ministry in Israel, as there is an assurance of its continuity. However, a critical look at the book of Deuteronomy, and in the whole of the Bible does not show a direct evidence of such an office of ‘the prophet’ that satisfied this condition so well. Prophets are mentioned only twice in Deuteronomy –here and in Deut. 13:1-6. In both places, prophets are presented as potential threats to the loyalty that Israel owes God. They are to be observed very carefully, for they can lead and presumably have led Israel away from undivided service and obedience to the Lord (Jer. 28). The writer of Deuteronomy even went ahead to enumerate the true test of prophesy in verse 22: if what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him. This test is so impractical and of no use to anyone who needs to make an urgent decision regarding a specific case. For the book of Deuteronomy, if people want to know the divine will, all they need to do is to study the book of the Lord (Deuteronomy); that is why it presents a singularly unflattering image of prophesy. Who is then the prophet that can positively present a dignified image of prophesy and at same a master of the law more than the scribes themselves?

It is Jesus. In the mind of the Deuteronomist, no prophet may satisfy this test, because of his exaltation of the law as the avenue of knowing the will of God. However, it is providential that he thought this way for God used him to bring out the outstanding character of the Messiah himself –the prophet par excellence. Jesus is the only prophet that knows the mind of God and speaks only in the name of God the Father (cf. John 14:10-14; Jesus’ correction over the attribution of his power to Beelzebub: Matt. 12:24-28). In him are the law and the prophet surmised. Jesus so distinguished himself in his teachings and deeds that got the people astonished; he taught as a prophet like no other. There was something so different about him. He even surpassed the manner of teaching of the scribes. This made him so famous throughout the whole region of Galilee. This is what we see in the Gospel reading (Mark 1:21-28). The people were so surprised for Jesus taught them as one who has authority and not as the scribes.

And as if that surprise got from his teaching was not enough, at the same was the healing of a demon-possessed man. The people became more amazed, and asked one another: what is this? This reminds us of the same question (though with a change in pronoun) asked by the people in the desert when God provided them with food from heaven (Exod. 16:15): what is it? In this case, Moses was able to answer the question because it concerned a thing (bread) sent by God; but in the case of the Gospel, no one was able to answer the question because it concerns a person (Jesus, who in himself is a mystery to us) sent by God. The people’s astonishment led them to various and wild speculations that the fame of Jesus spread all over the region of Galilee. He is indeed the prophet like no other. As a prophet like no other, Jesus does not spare any demon. He chases them out of anybody they possess, and this is how we must be pro-active in the fight against demons.

But what is really a demon? What are demons? The name for demons is mazzikin, which means one who does harm. Demons are wicked beings who are out to harm the relationship man shares with God. And so, man can actually be a demon to another man. When a person is out to rupture the relationship one shares with God, then he is a demon. The question remains: have you ever been a demon? We need to cure ourselves from demonic acts before ever stuffing ourselves with the conviction that a being outside of us has possessed us and cause us to perpetrate evils. When you cease being a demon, you exorcise yourself. When you contribute to hamper the good relationship one shares with God, you become a demon to that person. Only when we stop being demons to others can we partake in the outstanding character of “the prophet like no other.”

Just like Christ who was outstanding, can we also be outstanding in the work we have been given to do? Can you make your job outstanding? Can you make your academic life outstanding? Can you make your marriage life outstanding? Can you make your spiritual life outstanding? Can you actually make a difference through the way you put in your best in the mission God has sent you as a Christian? We need to try to answer in our various ways names such as: a priest like no other, an electrician like no other, a doctor like no other, a teacher like no other, a wife like no other, a husband like no other, a mother like no other, a father like no other, a child like no other, a trader like no other, a politician like no other, a neighbour like no other, as servant like no other, etc. Paul in the Second Reading (1 Cor. 7:32-35) makes effort to clarify his thesis on not allowing marriage to hinder the Christians from proper preparation. He makes us to understand that there is a difference between a married person and a unmarried virgin. A married person can in one way or the other be distracted by things and persons around him, but an unmarried virgin who has worked ascetically to make himself or herself outstanding in purity is concerned only with the things of God ‘in both body and spirit’ (v.34). We must know that making ourselves to be like no other involves sacrifices and constant efforts.

Lastly, we must remember the personality of Daniel. There were many administrators and officers during the time of Daniel, but the outstanding character and quality of Daniel made the king Nebuchadnezzar to desire a new and highest appointment for him: and Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over his whole kingdom (Daniel 6:3). If you distinguish yourself, you will be uplifted irrespective of many who are in the same race with you. If you are like no other, you will be preferred. And so, work to be like no other in the life of the spirit, and you will be the preferred of God. Happy new week. God bless you.

THAT ULTIMATE METAMORPHIC CALLING

HOMILY FOR THE 3^RD SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

(First Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Resp. Psalm: Ps. 25:4-9; Second Reading: 1 Cor. 7:29-31; Gospel: Mark 1:14-20)

An ultimate metamorphic call is a call that gives birth to a new life; it is one that discontinues in order to continue. It is a call of continuity in discontinuity. It breaks in order to make straight. This call comes with some force with the purpose of building something new. There comes a time in a person’s life when he/she encounters an experience/encounter that changes almost everything about him/her. This encounter can come in the form of a call (as in the case of Samuel, and many prophets). It can come in the form of a near-death experience (as in the case of a boy who narrated how an accident experience initiated his conversion process). And this call carries with it a metamorphosis. This type of change affects the entirety of one’s being because it pierces into the person’s reason for existence. It is that moment of an ultimate change of one’s life, identity, occupation and lifestyle. For the people of Nineveh (the First Reading, Jonah 3:1-5, 10), it was an occurrence that threatened the very essence of living. For the apostles (in the Gospel, Mark 1:14-20), it was an occurrence that pierced the very mission of life. For us, today, it can be an occurrence that combines the very essence of living and the very mission of life.

This moment of ultimate is a period beyond which no other opportunity is granted. This is why such a change is ultimate. The moment of ultimate change is the moment when God gives us the very last warning or a decisive call. If one neglects this call, and moves towards another direction as against the direction God desires, he makes too an ultimate mistake. For the people of Nineveh, it would have led to a moment of total destruction and annihilation of their race. For the apostles, it would have led to a life of aimlessness and total confusion of their mission in life. For us today, it could lead to a combination of total annihilation and an aimless livelihood. A neglect of the moment of our ultimate change leads one totally out of the track. One may think he/she runs well without knowing that the track is a wrong one. So, one can run well, but outside the track.

One virtue that assists us to discover and follow our moment of ultimate change is attentiveness to the will/word of God. The people of Nineveh listened and their lives changed for the better. They mended their relationship with God, and got more longevity. The apostles listened and answered the call of God, thus changing their mission, and their lives with Christ and for Christ was simply the best form there was. They remained in their mission in Christ, and thus wrote their names on the sands of time. Attentiveness is necessary for the discovery of the moment of our ultimate call for change.

In the famous story of the First Reading, Jonas is sent to go and announce the day of destruction for the people of Nineveh. As a result of the announcement that “forty days more, and Nineveh will be destroyed,” the people become remorseful of their sins, fast and ask God for forgiveness. They show this by putting on sackcloth. And God forgives them. The numbering of days here is significant. The city to which Jonah is sent is reported as a city so large that it requires three days to go through it. Yet, this city does not need even three days for its repentance; one day is sufficient. God’s clemency does not limit Nineveh to three days, just as he gives forty days, a very large number of days, before the city is destroyed. The message of Jonah was one of destruction. The response of the people is one of a deep conversion. They turn from their evil ways as God repents of punishing them. This gives room for the concept of metanoia (repentance) in the New Testament (cf. Gospel of today; Mark 1:15), which is demanded of those who would belong to the kingdom of God.

“It is the time of fulfilment. The kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel.” In line with this, Paul reminds the Church in Corinth in the Second Reading (1 Cor. 7:29-31) that time is running out. He calls for a change of lifestyle; a change that helps to give way for a better life in God. For Paul, such lifestyles people live cause distraction to them. And so, for there to be concentration, they must set aside such lifestyles. They must be prepared always. Every person must constantly be prepared to answer the call of God whenever God calls him/her to rise and move. The person must think of pleasing no other than Christ. The relationships we share with other people are nothing to be compared with the relationship we should share with God. We must consider God first in our lives. And thus, preparedness for such consideration becomes an emphasis for all. This is the message of Paul.

The perfect exemplification of such response is then seen in the apostles. They answered Christ in immediacy, without having to give any reason whatsoever. Firstly, we must notice how Christ called them. Christ used a particular formula: follow me. We are not to think that this is the very first day that they see Jesus. Surely, they have heard him speak and teach the crowd. They have seen him act, react and interact with people. By this formula, Jesus gives a self-approbation of himself as a worthy master to be followed. By their immediate response too, the apostles certify Jesus as someone who is most worthy to be followed. The call began with Jesus’ personal reaction to himself. The response from the following is a sure proof of people who had already fallen in love with Jesus. All they need was to just get a glimpse of a show of love from Jesus, and it is sealed. Following Christ is like falling in love. We may admire people for reasons, but most times, we may love without reasons. The actions of Jesus won for him great love from people. Jesus did not just say: follow my teaching. He said: follow me. He wants us to follow the entirety of his being, because he is sure that he is most fit to lead.

This was a moment of deep change for these men who left everything they had and followed Jesus. Their lives would change. Their daily routine would change. Their relationships would change. Their job would change. Their vision and understanding would change. The answer to this call inaugurates a totally different novelty in their lives. They would now learn another discipline, another teaching, another pattern of life. This is what Christianity is. Christianity changes the entire person. It is a lifestyle, not just a doctrine. The Christian lives a life of the Gospel, and teaches it. There is no separation in the action of a Christian as regards what he/she does in the inside and on the outside. Living their nets and boats is a sign of an authentic conversion and change. Holding firm to the nets and boats can be obstacles that can hinder them from answering the calls. This signifies that they left everything and followed Jesus. In answering God’s call, we must leave everything for that singular treasure we have found. We must keep our eyes on the ball, and never be distracted by the ephemerals of this life. No one needs to tell us that leaving our nets and boats for Christ is a noble decision to make. What is your net or boat that you need to leave today? Be decisive. Leave it, and follow Christ.

In conclusion, we must talk about what Jesus offers them. He gave them a job. He did not call them to keep them idle. He converts them from being fishermen to becoming fishers of men. What a noble task. He raised their status; from catching fish to catching men. Man is the apex of God’s creation. So, their work is at the apex of all works. This task would not be an easy one. They would now be dealing with human beings who have reasons and emotions, and no longer fishes that are far more below the intelligence of man. This entails that the work would not be an easy one. They would pour out their lives and die for such a course. Their mission was a call to give up all they had so as to gain and win eternity for themselves and others. We have all been called to such a mission. Let us keep the flag flying in our different facets of life. I pray that you get a metamorphic call that would change you for the better. Happy new week. God bless you.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

HOMILY FOR THE 2^ND SUNDAY OF THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Onyekachi

The business of Jesus was a very serious one, and that is why it was sought after by serious persons. Jesus in the Gospel (John 1:35-42) knew how expensive his work was to be that he had to put the question to the disciples of John the Baptist who would become his: who do you seek? (who are you looking for?). After John must have borne series of witnesses about Jesus, and after the disciples of John must have wished to become identified with this man of whom their master, John was talking about, it finally came to that very day when these disciples got the chance to follow Jesus. Certain points come to mind considering this question of Jesus to these disciples.

1. The question of Jesus to them about what they seek is somewhat striking. What do you seek refers to a thing. If they were actually following Jesus to know him, Jesus should have framed his question as such: who do you seek? But to show that they were fascinated by the personality of this ‘new prophet’ who John admits of being nothing to compare with him, and that this fascination may have led them to desire to share in his glories and publicity. And so, by asking this question, Jesus tends to tell them that they are looking for a thing in Him, instead of to look for who he is, which John had earlier on told them (John 1:34). It is true that a number of things can draw us towards God, but we must realize that not a number of things can keep us in God. The search for miracles can draw you to God, but it can never keep you. What keeps you is your self-discovery in God, and your knowledge of the identity of God.

2. This question of Jesus can also be read from the optics of an invitation to conversation. As we look for Jesus, Jesus is eager to also look for us. In this passage is the great eagerness in Jesus to reach out to men. He made the first step when these disciples were merely following him. The disciples may have nurtured some fears in them regarding how to start conversation with Jesus, but Jesus solved this problem for them by being proactive. Remember that the story goes that Jesus turned to speak to them. This showed a high level of willingness to allow them join him and engage in a conversation with him. He knew their hearts were already stirred to meet with him. Jesus knows us and our intent steps. All we need do is to respond and converse with him when he asks us a question. All we need do is to stay connected.

3. It may not matter how you got converted. What matters is how you stay converted. Thanks to God that the disciples of John went further to show that they desired to be with Jesus the more. The question of Andrew and the unnamed disciple (most probably John) about where Jesus lives is a clear sign that they never wanted a roadside conversation. They needed a life changing one. Jesus allowed them, and they spent an ample time with him. They remained with Jesus. After the answer to the call comes the action to be with Jesus and listen to him. They showed that they came to stay irrespective of the fascination that brought them. They were asking to join him in the quietness of his home to open and pour out their hearts to him, and for him to really become their teacher. Surely, they called him Rabbi. Our calling demands great discipline. One cannot learn without discipline. We need to stay at a place to purify ourselves so as to purify others.

4. And Andrew rushed to tell Peter the fascinating experience they had made. Our call requires us to help call others. Immediately Peter arrived, Jesus exposed to them the kind of mission that they would undergo. It was a rocky one. This mission requires a change of name. And Jesus uses the same Peter as a point of contact for others. And if in case, their initial intention is jacquard, Jesus by this purified it. Thus, the renaming of Simon, the son of Jonah to Peter can also be a sort of a purification of intention and a redirection of path to its proper focus. This renaming ceremony shows that Peter (together with others) now has a mission to accomplish after having been called. Come and See!!! This was the reply Jesus gave to the two disciples (Andrew and Peter) of John the Baptist who asked him where he was staying. In these words we find the meaning of vocation (cf. Pastores Dabor Vobis, 34). He was called (vocation), and he has to get the necessary preparation for this mission. Having kept ourselves in Jesus, we are not only prepared to stay, but prepared for mission. Every Christian has a mission inherent in his/her calling. Vocation presupposes mission.

5. The call of Samuel in the First Reading (1Sam. 3:3b-10, 19) is a clear exemplification of God’s call and mission as it brings our another peculiar character in vocations. Unlike the disciples in the Gospel who had already been told by John about who Jesus was, Samuel as at the time of his calling was unfamiliar with the nature of God’s call. He was then directed by Eli on what to do. Actually, someone can assist us to answer the call of God. It was not Eli calling, it was God calling. The role of Eli was to direct Samuel to a proper answer. There are many Elis of today. This reminds them that they are directors and not callers. It is only God who calls. The formators in the Catholic Senior Seminary are directors. The Bishops and Superiors are directors. Only God calls. All we need do as directors is to direct well. Those being called by God are to be told how to answer and what to answer. If the directors of today fail in this, think of how disastrous the response to the call of God would be. If Eli had not directed Samuel properly, think of how Israel would have lost such a great Prophet. Samuel was not the biological son of Eli, yet Eli did not grow jealous of that call to an extent of misdirecting the young Samuel. He still did his job well. As directors today, we must do our job in sincerity regardless of whose ox is gored. There should be no nepotism or favouritism. We must allow God to call and not impose our whims and caprices on him.

6. And finally, we need to ask ourselves: what are we looking for? There is an attitude that is exhibited by anyone who is searching for an important thing or person. This attitude is one of restlessness. The mind does not seem to be calm until the person finds what or who is been sort for. And indeed, one of the yardsticks for measuring one is looking for something in seriousness. One must go beyond the normal attitude he/she has to put on an attitude that befits seriousness. A boy was narrating a story of how he converted his weakness to become his strength. According to him, he was shy and inclined to staying indoors. He would rather stay indoors, singing and dancing on his own rather than go out to sing and dance to avoid being ridiculed. Surely, he was gifted in music. One day, a visitor advised him to consider going to the studio to produce a musical album for the happiness of others, not only for his. After several insistences, he managed to produce an album. And then came afterwards the real challenge: how do I market this album? He found it difficult to meet several marketers as the few he met trivialized his musical acumen. He was then forced out of himself. He had thought to himself: I can be my own marketer. He took to the streets. He was going around, playing the music, as many passersby and travellers patronized. As someone who was looking for the popularity of his album, he was made even more serious than he was. A shy person became a marketer, and a good one for that matter that almost all who heard him advertise his product were forced to patronize him. Every serious endeavour involves a breaking of shell. One has to seriously look for it before he/she can have it. It is not got on a platter of gold.

If you seek excellence, be disciplined. If you seek love, give love. If you seek success, embrace hard work. If you seek Christ, be ready to ask him where he stays. Be with him, listen to him, and work for him. Only so can you live forever with him. do have a blessed week. God bless you.